Meth ring linked to bayside youth camp

San Diego  A Mission Bay business that hosts a summer youth camp doubled as a drop and sales site for a methamphetamine ring, the District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

Nine adults face felony drug charges in connection with the suspected trafficking of large amounts of the drug out of the Mission Bay Sportcenter.

The popular business, which rents items from water sports equipment to boats, was used as a drop spot for drug deliveries and payments between customers and dealers, prosecutors said.

Among the defendants is business owner Jason Boone, 40, of San Diego, who prosecutors said ran the ring and coordinated with drug couriers who picked up supplies at Mission Bay Sportcenter. Boone faces 15 charges, including transportation, sale and possession of meth.

“This was a very sophisticated operation in which the defendant, the leader Jason Boone, would store methamphetamine ... in the lockers of the Mission Bay Sportcenter,” said Deputy District Attorney Jorge Del Portillo.

He said couriers and mid-level drug dealers would pick up the drugs from the lockers and drop off money.

Undercover officers launched the multi-agency investigation into the suspected sales in November. They bought a half pound of meth as part of the sting, dubbed Operation Boone’s Farm.

On Thursday, federal and local authorities served search warrants at five sites across the county.

Boone, Macias and Gifford were arraigned Friday in San Diego Superior Court. Bail was set for each at $500,000.

Others are expected to be arraigned next week.

Authorities said they seized a loaded .22-caliber handgun, a bullet-proof vest, and $48,000 in cash and assets. They also found heroin, marijuana, prescription pills and about five pounds of meth.

Zach Funston, a spokesman for Mission Bay Sportcenter, said in a statement issued late Friday that Boone’s arrest will not affect programs at the company’s three locations. “It’s important to know that no members of our activities team other than Jason Boone were identified by authorities,” he said.